Google’s Project Loon to provide Internet access via hot air balloons

Google has launched a pilot Project Loon in New Zealand, and interested people from the country can even sign up to take part in the project on its website.

There have been reports recently that Google is planning to provide Internet access to consumers with the help of high flying hot air balloons. This new concept is being worked upon under the name ‘Project Loon’ led by Google.

Google is planning to provide Internet access that will be powered by hot air balloons. And this is not just a proposal; the company has already launched a pilot project in New Zealand. In this project, 50 testers are trying to connect to the Internet with the help of a helium-filled, solar powered balloon. Project Loon might seem to be odd or weird today, but with the target Google has in mind, it will be a huge success provided that the company is able to achieve what it has been trying to, but with a good level of efficiency.

According to the idea of Project Loon, consumers will be using custom designed antennas to receive their signal from hot air balloons. These balloons will be floating twice as high as commercial airplanes fly. The signal will be passed on from the antennas on the ground, to the balloons which will then broadcast it using their high-altitude placement. This way, we will be able to reach places and locations where there is no network and service available as of now.

In the future, Google also plans to use the same technology for connecting smartphones. Hence we might soon be able to see smartphone users connecting to these hot air balloons in order to get access to cellular service in places where it does not exist today.

As already mentioned earlier, Google has launched a pilot project in New Zealand, and interested people from the country can even sign up to take part in the project on its website. They can also attend the Festival of Flight that will be held in Christchurch on Sunday, where they will get a chance to meet the team and learn more about the Project Loon.